THE ECONOMICS OF ALTRUISM

This title appears exactly 20 years after the publication of Altruism, Morality and Economic Theory, an important volume edited by E.S. Phelps which contains the proceeding of a conference where social scientists and philosophers met to speculate on the roles that altruism and morality play in shaping human behaviour and economic institutions within our societies. Until recently this discipline was considered of minor importance – now there is clear evidence of its growing interest.

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This title appears exactly 20 years after the publication of Altruism, Morality and Economic Theory, an important volume edited by E.S. Phelps which contains the proceeding of a conference where social scientists and philosophers met to speculate on the roles that altruism and morality play in shaping human behaviour and economic institutions within our societies. Until recently this discipline was considered of minor importance – now there is clear evidence of its growing interest.

This an important volume contains the major articles on the economics of altruism published since 1975. The articles are grouped under 6 headings: the emergence of altruistic behaviour, varieties of altruism, the relevance of altruism and selfishness, altruism and allocation of resources, evolutionary dynamics of altruism, extended rationality and altruistic behaviour. The Economics of Altruism will be welcomed by all those with an interest in economics, philosophy, psychology and sociology.

‘Professor Zamagni deserves high praise for his efforts bringing together a coherent critique of the conventional formulation of rationality in economics. . . . this volume will serve as a very useful introduction to the broad potential for future work in the economics of altruism.’
– Theodore Tsukahara Jr., Kyklos

‘The importance of bringing together such a span of ideas regarding one of the most problematic aspects of economic theory cannot be overstated.’
– Amos Witztum, The Economic Journal